About Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247)
Cook County's small estate affidavit for decedents who died on or after September 4, 1991 but BEFORE August 15, 2025. Gross personal estate must not exceed $100,000, and registered motor vehicles COUNT toward that $100,000. For deaths on or after August 15, 2025 use CCP 0248 instead ($150,000 cap, vehicles excluded). Check the date of death before using either form.
What it's for: Collect and distribute a small decedent estate without opening formal probate, by sworn affidavit presented directly to the party holding the assets (755 ILCS 5/25-1).
When you'd use it: Use when the decedent died before August 15, 2025, left no real estate, the gross personal estate (including registered vehicles) is $100,000 or less, and no letters of office are outstanding or contemplated.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247) is published as a PDF by the Illinois courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Download Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247) (PDF) →
Source: services.cookcountyclerkofcourt.org
Link last checked: September 18, 2026
How to file Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247) in Illinois
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247) (CCP 0247) when use when the decedent died before August 15, 2025, left no real estate, the gross personal estate (including registered vehicles) is $100,000 or less, and no letters of office are outstanding or contemplated. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — Illinois probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247) carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Small Estate Affidavit — Death Before 8/15/2025 (CCP 0247) to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the Illinois county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).